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Starkist Tuna Creations Sweet & Spicy
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Canned tunas

Starkist Tuna Creations Sweet & Spicy

2.6 oz

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 33

Starkist Tuna Creations Sweet & Spicy scores 33 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
  3. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better canned tuna

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Tuna Creations Sweet & Spicy

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Corn syrup
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [4][5]
subtotal−42.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [5]
  • 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), flavoring and industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate. [5]
subtotal−21

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 5.4 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some sugar. [1]
  • Salt 1.2 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [6]
  • Protein 21.6 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [2]
subtotal−4
TOTAL 33Poor

100 − 67.5 = 32.5 → 33

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

GTIN 00080000513083 · 2026-06-02

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy122 kcal
Fat0.7 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates5.4 g
Sugars5.4 g
Added sugars5.4 g
Fiber0 g
Protein21.6 g
Salt1.2 g

Serving: 1 portion (74 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

LIGHT TUNA, WATER, SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF THE FOLLOWING: WHITE VINEGAR, TOMATOES, DEHYDRATED RED BELL PEPPERS, CHILI POWDER, SALT, DEHYDRATED GARLIC, DEHYDRATED ONION, NATURAL FLAVORS (INCLUDING YEAST EXTRACT), VEGETABLE BROTH, CORN SYRUP, EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA

Allergens and diets

Contains: Fish

  • Not vegan
  • Not vegetarian
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest canned tunas in the US

More from Starkist

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  5. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  6. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”

    who.int

  7. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”

    doi.org

  8. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org